From 'A concise history of Port Beaufort & White Sands (also known as Witsand) including Family Trees White Sands & Port Beaufort' written by John McGregor* Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCo...

I have copied this booklet, written and researched by John McGregor, in 2 parts below. I've put the family trees first and if you scroll down and click on a person's name in blue you will be taken to their profile page that has all the information about that person. From there you will be able to click on another link that will enable you to see their tree.

Below that I've put the timeline.

The history can be read by clicking on Photos and Documents on the right and that will take you to a page where 2 PDFs will be displayed side by side.

Timeline

1488:

The Portuguese recognised the Breede River mouth as the finest natural anchorage on the whole southern seaboard of Africa.

1576:

It was about this time when King Sebastian's navigator, Manuel de Mesquita Perestrelo, was enthusiastic over this bay. He called the bay after Dom Sebastiao, the most serene King of Portugal, St. Sebastian's Bay, and on the west bank Cape Infanta.

1790:

San Sebastian Bay was surveyed by the French sea captain, Captain Duminy.

1798:

May - the Breede River mouth was visited by Lady Anne Barnard nee Lindsay and her husband Andrew Barnard, who was Colonial Secretary under the British Administration, with Jocob van Reenen of Slang River. Her letters detailing this event and titled 'South Africa a century ago; letters written from the Cape of Good Hope (1791-1801)' may be found here.

1800:

Landrost Anthonie Faure reported to Governor Sir George Yonge that the Breede River was suitable for navigation "up to six hours inland, with excellent safe loading - places for small vessels along either bank'".

1802:

Baron von Buchenröder visited San Sebastian Bay, crossed the river in a small boat and pronounced it "only three to four feet deep at low tide, and thus only suitable for sloops and long flat vessels, such as one sees on the Main, Nekker and Weser in Germany." He also found an English ship anchored in the Breede River. Refer to the About Me section of his profile for clarification of the exact year.

Malagas got its name from the farm belonging to Adriaan Odendaal, "Malagas Craal gelegen aan de Breede Rivier".

1817:

It was found that the bar was navigable by vessels displacing not more than six feet of water. Lord Charles Somerset named the east bank of Breede River after the title of his father, the Duke of Beaufort.

Captain Benjamin Moodie and his partner, Hamilton Ross, were to bring out 10 000 Scots to South Africa. After the first 50, Ross pulled out. Moodie brought in 200 men, many of them artisans. The Scots were to pay Moodie the &20 (pounds) back before or after the trip. If they couldn't, then they must work for Moodie for 18 months.

December - Joseph Barry arrives at the Cape on the 'Duke of Malborough', returning soon to London. He was commissioned by the London Wine House, Barry & Wilkinson, to act as their agent for the export of wines from the Cape. Soon after arriving in Cape Town he was granted permission to remain. More about him can be read here.

1819:

Joseph Barry bought the cutter, Duke of Gloucester, and arrived at Port Beaufort with food for the starving populace. This signified the fact that the Overberg had achieved its own gateway to the markets of the world. 500-600 wagons were assembled on the heights above the river mouth awaiting the cutter. He was persuaded to open a small trading store at Port Beaufort. Due to bad health he returned to the Cape Colony.

1820:

Captain Benjamin Moodie established the Port Beaufort Trading Company. Credit must go to him for first enticing the vessels to cross the bar regularly for mercantile purposes. He built a warehouse at Port Beaufort. Some of the Cape's merchant vessels brought in manufactured goods. The vessels were loaded with wheat, wine, brandy and fruit. It was this year that the coastal trade established Port Beaufort. Moodie noted the advantages given to the 1820 Settlers so he claimed them for himself for his earlier efforts. He was given the farm "Westfield" just east of the Breede River mouth.

1823:

Joseph Barry opened a store in Port Beaufort. His nephew, Thomas, entered the coastal trade.

1824:

Joseph Barry moved to Swellendam, "a small and considerable place" with only one shop.

1827:

Joseph Barry was insolvent.

1828:

1 January - William Dunn arrived in San Sebastian's Bay as an official to keep a watching brief for the authorities at Port Beaufort. His salary was &150 (pounds) per year.

1830:

The Barrys owned a substantial warehouse in Port Beaufort.

1831:

31 January - The portion, Port Beaufort no.484 Swellendam 1419 morgan, given in freehold title by Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole for the management of a "mercantile warehouse" to the trustees Messrs Ewan Christian, Joseph Barry and Francis Collison.

10 October - The farm, "Westfield" no.478 Swellendam 5257 morgan, Government ground, was granted to Captain Benjamin Moodie by Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole as a reward for his efforts in bringing 200 Scots into the country.

Joseph Barry built a Thatch (known as a wolwe-end) on the commonage at the end facing the sea.

1837:

Michiel van Breda, of Oranjezigt, took the chair at the first meeting of the trustees in the Commercial Exchange. There were 600 paid-up shareholders. Many city people invested in this venture. They received an erf for every &2 (pounds) share they bought.

1838:

Ninety shares are issued. The Swellendam surveyor W.M. Hopley laid out the ninety plots. These were drawn for by the ballot, except for Joseph Barry and Captain Moodie, who were entitled to the "extensive erven" upon which their warehouses were built.

William Dunn crossed the Breede River and settled on the Potteberg farm Rietfontein with the adjacent farm Brakkefontein which had been transferred to his name in 1837.

1840:

By this year Barry and Nephews were the undisputed "princes of the port'.

1841:

Port Beaufort declared a port.

By this year Benjamin Moodie's venture had for all practical purposes disappeared.

1842:

February - George Leith continued William Dunn's job after a Temporary held this position for about 3 years.

1843:

Benjamin Moodie lived on the farm Grootvadersbosch until this year.

1853:

The first Postmaster at Malagas was Dennyson.

1855:

Imports to the tune of & 45 000 (pounds) passed through customs who were collecting dues averaging &1000 (pounds) per year.

1856:

Benjamin Moodie died at "Westfield" and was buried on his farm.

1857:

Joseph Barry moved to Cape Town, and lived in Hope Mill at the top end of Government Avenue.

1858:

By this time Joseph Barry's business was as far as Robertson, Montagu, Sweetmilk Valley (Rivier Sonder End), Bredasdorp, Heidelberg, Riversdale, Mossel Bay, Zwartberg (Ladismith) and Barrydale. Joseph Barry sent John Barry to the London office to purchase a steam driven vessel. Other Barry vessels were The Barrys, Kadie, Vallisneria and Ceres. The Barrys and Kadie were wrecked at the mouth of the Breede River.

Barry Church completed by Thomas Barry. The register contains names of the Reitzes, the Moodies, the Dunns and the Barrys.

26 September - 156 ton screw steamer "Kadie" arrived at Port Beaufort after sailing for 81 days from Scotland. This vessel was built expressly for Barry and Nephews. On board was her Commander, Captain Fowler and his family and the Rev. John Samuel, headmaster of the Swellendam Grammar School, the 15 year old Francis William Reitz who was on holiday at Rhenoster Fontein from the South African College. The trip up the Breede River to Malagas took 2 hours and 20 minutes. "Kadie" was piloted by one of Williams Dunn's numerous descendants.

1860:

Thomas Barry joined the firm. The village of Port Beaufort now consisted of about 20 buildings. Among these were the hotel and a canteen, the warehouse, customs house, Queen's warehouse, stores, a shop and some houses.

1862:

Water was scarce in Port Beaufort, and in this year the Malagas pontmaker filled up a waterboat. It served Port Beaufort well, and finally beached itself on the east bank opposite the woolshed where the remains can still be seen (next to the Breede River Lodge).

Kadie reached Knysna to load wood for Cape Town. The farthest Kadie sailed was to Mauritius with a cargo of ostriches which were destined for Australia.

1864:

Highlight of the Kadie's short life was Great Western Province Agricultural Exhibition at Swellendam. Kadie made special trips to Cape Town, with livestock and implements. Eastern Province exhibitors were fetched at Algoa Bay.

The Port Beaufort customs officer was transferred.

Port Beaufort was abolished as a port.

1865:

Kadie stranded at the mouth of the Breede River on the rocks of Cape Infanta.

Joseph Barry died at Hope Mill in Cape Town on Sunday 26th March, aged 70 years.

The Great Fire of Swellendam.

The firm Barry and Nephews went bankrupt.

1870:

By this time Malagas was completely static.

1880:

Barrydale is established and received it's name, Barrydale.

1886:

All official trace of Port Beaufort finally vanished from the Blue Books of the Cape Colony.

1929:

The freehold portion Port Beaufort was eventually resurrected and granted to Alfred John Barry.